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I press my lips into a tight line and quickly glance at Cruz who nods. Turning back to Dianna, I nod. “I did what I could to help, but the real heroes are the boys. I was just along for the ride.”
Dianna pulls me into her arms. “Thank you,” she whispers into my ear before pulling back and holding me by the shoulders. “These boys were raised to fight. Every spare moment they’ve ever had has been spent in training, refining their skills until they finally reached perfection. They were born to throw themselves into dangerous and unpredictable situations, but you … you didn’t have that same training. You going in to save them shows exactly what kind of situations you’re ready to face for the loyalty and protection of your people and it speaks volumes about the kind of woman you’re growing into. You’re incredible, Elodie Ravenwood, and I will forever be in your debt. Your parents would be so proud of you.”
A lump forms in my throat and I try to swallow over it, positive that if I were to try and talk right now, my voice would break and every little emotion that I’m desperately trying to hold onto will come falling out.
Seeing the internal struggle, Dianna simply pulls me back into her arms, holding me tight as her hand rubs up and down my back. I hold onto her a second longer than necessary, loving that warmth she gives me, a warmth that I’ve always imagined my mother would have had.
Dianna pulls back and her hands capture mine, giving them each a tight squeeze. “Do you have a few moments?” she questions. “There are a few things I would like to discuss with you.”
“Of course,” I rush out, searching her eyes in confusion as a million things start rushing through my mind, each of them wondering what could be so important that she needs to pull me aside to discuss. I mean, the only thing we really have in common is her son, and as far as I’m concerned, she’s all good with our relationship—at least, I hope.
I step back toward the open door and Dianna steps with me, leaving the boys behind, that is until Cruz forces his way between us and stares down at his mother. “What’s this about? What’s going on?”
“Oh, Cruz,” his mother laughs. “You know, not everything has to involve you.”
Cruz stares at her blankly, almost offended by her statement. “What are you talking about? I’m Cruz Freaking Danforth, of course everything involves me. I’m God’s gift to earth. I’m brilliant.”
“That you are, my son,” she throws back at him, a smirk on her lips as her eyes sparkle with mirth, playing him at his own game and showing me exactly where he gets it from. “But about a week ago, you, my darling, walked through my front door, looked me dead in the eyes after my sons had been taken from me, and told me that you and your friends had killed Elodie Ravenwood in order to save your brothers. Now, I know you like to forget all those important life lessons your father and I always taught you, but lying to your mother is unacceptable.”
Cruz cringes. “Come on, you know why I had to do it.”
“I do, which is the only reason that I haven’t dragged you out of this house by your ear and locked your ass in your bedroom.”
“Mom,” he seethes, lowering his voice. “I’m nearly twenty. You can’t lock me in my room.”
“You want to make a bet?”
Cruz rolls his eyes and huffs. “Fine,” he says, “but be honest, aren’t you secretly impressed that I was able to get that lie past you? Usually you can see straight through my bullshit.”
“Impressed certainly isn’t the word I would use for it,” she tells him. “You had me thinking that I was losing my edge. I still have two sons to raise and my built-in lie detector has always been my biggest gift. If I were to lose that, I’d be screwed. Now, go and make yourself useful while Elodie and I have a quick chat.”
Cruz groans as Dianna and I step around him. “Really?” he calls from behind us, more than ready to throw a tantrum for not being invited to our private chat. “You’re really going to hold this against me?”
“Yep.”
“For how long?”
“Go and save some more of those poor girls that Sam Delacourt trafficked and I might just consider letting you back into my good graces. Save three in the same week and I might just buy you that new Harley Davidson you’ve been looking at.”
“Is that a promise?” he demands, his voice traveling right up the hallway in his excitement. Dianna doesn’t respond as we step through to the dining room that the boys and I had only just been in a moment ago, only now that moment seems like a lifetime. “Fuck. Mom?” Cruz calls out again. “Is it a promise? Shit. Winter? Is it a promise or is she doing that weird smirky thing that she does when she’s fucking with me?”
